Pneumatic shuttle-thrower.



No. 781,632. PATENTBD FEB. 7, 1905. E. C. S. COBB & S. T. MAOMULLBN.

PNEUMATIG SHUTTLE THROWER.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov.z8.19oa.

2 SHEETS-SEEE FIG. 1.

win/Lesmo a... WM,

No. 781,632. PATBNTED FEB. '7, 1905.

E. G. S. COBB & S. T. MAGMULLEN.

PNEUMATIC SHUTTLE THROWER.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV.28, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented February 7, 1905.

TINTTED STATES PATENT FFTCTL.,

EZEK'IEL C. S. COBB AND SAMUEL l. MACMULLEN, OE lVl IA'IlNtVlON, DELAVARE.

PNEUMATIC SHUTTLE-THROWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,632,

dated February '7, 1905.

Application filed November 28, 1903. Serial No. 182,966.

Be it known that we, Eznkmr. C. S. Conn and Saunier/11 MACMULLEN, citizens ot' the United States, residing at llfilniington, in the county ot' Newcastle and State ot Delaware, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Shuttle-Throwers, of which the tollowing is a specitication.

This invention relates to pneumatic shuttle throwers or pickers for looms.

The object ot' the invention is to construct a shuttle thrower or picker in which the shuttle shall be thrown from both sides otl the loom with absolute uniformity by pneumatic pressure; also, to Vt'urnish a pneumatic cheek or butl'er to the shuttle-thrower which may be adjusted to give any required elasticity and resistance; also, to improve pneumatic shuttle-throwers in various particulars, as will be stated in the claims.

Figure 1 is the front elevation ot' so unich ot a loom as is necessary to give a general idea ot the arrangement of the shuttlethrower thereon. Eig. 2 is a sectional view ot a special valve employed to control the entrance and exit ot' air to and from the cylinders ot the thrower. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the parts composing the slnittle-thrower. Eig. et is a longitudinal section of one ot' the cylinders and its piston and rod. Fig. 5 is a section ot the buler or check, and Fig. 6 is a cross-section ot' the same. Fig. T is a broken part of a longitudinal section indicating the lay and its support.

The drawings do not show sizes or proportions ot' parts, but are intended to guide a mechanic skilled in this art in the construction of the device.

The piston-rod 1 extends across the loom. As shown in Fig. 1, it is above the position et' the warp; but such position might readily be changed or reversed. Piston-rod 1 has a piston Q at each end. Each piston 2 lits a pneumatic cylinder 3, which cylinder is suitably supported on the hand-rail ot' the loom. l

The pistons are suitably packed to work air- X pieces 2l), however tight or with very little leakage in the cylinders 3. At the outer end of each cylinder 3 is a valve et. The valve 1 is in communication with a supply ot' compressed air by means ol a hose or other suitable connection. The valve i has a stem t5 extending through the casing and provided with a plug' S, which closes or opens the passage in diaphragm 9, through which air is admitted to cylinder 3. The stem (i passes through a stutting-box 1() to a valve-lever 11, which lever is pivoted outside the casing both to the valvestem and casing or to a support 12 on the casing, enough lost motion being allowed at the pivots to permit the vertical play ot' the valvestem. The valve-stem pressed upward to close plug 8 by spring 13, seated within the casing and bearing on said plug. The lower end ot' the valve-stem is hollow and extends down through a stuting-box 11.

A cross passage or vent 16 in the valve-stem is just within the casing and open when the plug 8 is closed into its seat in diaphragm 9; but this vent 16 is closed whenever stem t3 is pressed down, so that the vent 1`t3 comes within the wall otl the casing or the cap 17, forming an extension of the valve-casing. lt' there be air-pressure in the upper chamber ot' the valve, then depressing stem G the vent le will be closed and plug n opened, and the air will pass through the valve into cylinder 3, driving the piston along in said cylinder. This depression ot' stem t3 is in practice etfected by a moving part ot' the machine, (as an arm 20' worked by the batten or by the harness,) and the air admitted to cylinder 3 drives the piston 9. and rod 1 toward the other side ot' the loom.

The piston-rod l has rigid arms which connect the piston-rod l to the throwing-bar 21. This bar 21 has pickers or strikers 23 at each end, and these pickers or strikers alternately engage the shuttle and throw it across the loom in usual manner.

lt will be understood that the valves, cylinders, and pistons at each end otl the pistonrod 1 are duplicates, but that the contactthey may be operated, only open the valves 1 alternately.

Midway otl the piston-rod the butler or and connected by a suitable pipe or duct there check-cylinder BO is suitably supported on the hand-rail ot -the lay of the loom. On the' piston-rod 1 are two buffer-pistons 31, each adapted to en ter an open-ended-chamber in the buffer-cylinder 30, the rod 1 passing'with a close lit through partition-wall 33 in the but'- fer-cylinder. A small passage 34 through the partition-Wall 33 is controlled by a screw or stop-valve 35. This valve may be adjusted so as to open passage 311 to a greater or less extent. As the piston-rod 1 is thrown in either direction the buffer-piston 31 from the driven end of the rod will enter the cylinder 30, and the air ahead of this buffer-piston will be compressed, escaping through the opening 34 with more or less rapidity, according to the position of stop-valve 35. The buffer or check does not begin to operate until the stroke is within one and one-half inches of completion, said buffer or check eliminating all jar and shocks.

As soon as either lever 11 is operated to release the pressure on valve-stem 6 spring 13 will litt said stem, closing plug 8 into its seat and excluding further air entrance into cylinder 3. The air from said cylinder will then escape through opening 16, and the cylinder will offer little resistance to the return movement of piston 2 when driven from the other side of the loom.

From the foregoing it is believed the construction and operation of this device will be understood by experts in this art. The mechanism is simple and light, of few parts, which reduces wear and cost of maintenance, and can be adjusted to almost any kind of loom now'm constructed. The thrower is carried on the lay of the loom and suitable operative connections can be made by an expert mechanic. By simply increasing the air-pressurethe shuttle speed is increased, thereby enabling the revolution of the loom to be increased, increasing the output. f

What we claim is- 1. In a pneumatic shuttle-thrower, the combination of a cylinder at each side ofthe loom, a piston-rod extending across the loom and having shuttle-throwers connected thereto, and a pneumatic buffer connected to said piston-rod.

2. In pneumatic shuttle-throwers, a pneumatic cylinder at each side ot' the loom, pistons in said cylinders, a piston-rod extending across the loom and connecting said pistons, shuttle-throwers connected to said piston-rod, and buffers to check the movement of the rod, all the specified elements combined substantially as described.

3. In a pneumatic slmttle-thrower, the combination of a pneumatic cylinder, piston, and means whereby the shuttle-is operated from said piston, and an adjustable pneumatic butter whereby the piston movement may be arrested. f

4. In a pneumatic shuttle -thro\ver, the combination of a pneumatic cylinder, piston, and means connected to the piston whereby the shuttle is thrown, a valve controlling airinlet to the cylinder, a spring for closing said valve, and a vent in the valve-stem by which pressure in the cylinder is relieved when the valve is closed,

In testimony whereof we aiiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

EZEKIEL C. S. COBB. SAML. T. MACMULIJEN. Vitnesses:

ROBERT PENINGTON, THoMAs F. BAYARD. 

